Handwriting Rules Vic 4 look inside/sample

H ndwriting
Rules!
STUDENT
WORKBOOK
Victorian
Modern Cursive
Australian Curriculum
Katy Collis and Alexandra Kennedy

Contents
Page Features
Review
Letter families....................................................................... 2
Touch joins........................................................................... 3
Diagonal joins...................................................................... 5
Diagonal joins to f................................................................ 7
Diagonal joins to x................................................................ 8
Diagonal join from q to u...................................................... 9
Diagonal joins to and from s.............................................. 10
Horizontal joins from b, o, r, v, w........................................ 12
Horizontal joins to e........................................................... 13
Joins to head and body letters........................................... 16
Horizontal joins to and from f............................................. 17
Horizontal joins to s............................................................ 18
Letters that don’t join yet.................................................... 20
Double letters..................................................................... 21
Clear instructions to teach or
review each join.
18
Review: Horizontal joins to s
o o o
Extend the exit over
the top of the s . . .
race then write.
retrace
then retrace back
around.
o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o w w w w w w w w w w w w w w w w w w w w w w w w w
f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b
race then write the sentences.
To make a horizontal join
from s, retrace the top of the s.
o
I’m positiv positiv positiv positiv positiv positiv positiv positiv positiv positiv i i i i i i i i i i ma ma ma ma ma ma ma ma ma ma possibl possibl possibl possibl possibl possibl possibl possibl possibl possibl rai. rai. rai. rai. rai. rai. rai. rai. rai. rai.
Th Th Th Th Th Th Th Th Th Th oaf oaf oaf oaf oaf oaf oaf oaf oaf oaf wor wor wor wor wor wor wor wor wor wor scarf scarf scarf scarf scarf scarf scarf scarf scarf scarf an an an an an an an an an an brief. brief. brief. brief. brief. brief. brief. brief. brief. brief.
Self-assessment ick any joins to s that are excellent.
Underline any joins that you could improve.
Handwriting: horizontal joins to s. Grammar: modality (positive, possibly).
Helpful tips.
Link to animation
showing correct
join formation.
(Download a QR
code reader from
the App Store.)
Self-assessment
feature to
encourage
students to take
responsibility
for their own
progress.
Consolidation
Fluency and legibility.......................................................... 24
Using capital letters to complete forms.............................. 48
Humorous illustrations to
reinforce concepts.
Introducing print script for labelling
Print script for labelling....................................................... 49
Introducing speed loops
From descenders g, j, y and z............................................ 54
To ascenders b, h, k and l.................................................. 56
Personal style
All joins and speed loops................................................... 58
Signatures.......................................................................... 60
Assessment
Progressive speed and fluency trials................................. 62
Progressive self-assessment............................................. 64
A variety of practice
activities. These
provide an English
curriculum context for
handwriting, to give it
meaning and make it
fun and motivating for
Year 4 students.
For the teacher, links to
grammar, punctuation,
spelling and vocabulary,
and literary elements.
30
Consolidation: Fluency and legibility
Remember to keep
your letter shape, size,
slope and spacing
consistent.
race then write.
Thoma Thoma Thoma Thoma Thoma Thoma Thoma Thoma Thoma Thoma sa sa sa sa sa sa sa sa sa sa i i i i i i i i i i th th th th th th th th th th docto’s docto’s docto’s docto’s docto’s docto’s docto’s docto’s docto’s docto’s waitin waitin waitin waitin waitin waitin waitin waitin waitin waitin roo, roo, roo, roo, roo, roo, roo, roo, roo, roo,
tryin tryin tryin tryin tryin tryin tryin tryin tryin tryin no no no no no no no no no no t t t t t t t t t t pani pani pani pani pani pani pani pani pani pani abou abou abou abou abou abou abou abou abou abou hi hi hi hi hi hi hi hi hi hi ar. ar. ar. ar. ar. ar. ar. ar. ar. ar.
It was’t was’t was’t was’t was’t was’t was’t was’t was’t was’t lookin lookin lookin lookin lookin lookin lookin lookin lookin lookin goo. goo. goo. goo. goo. goo. goo. goo. goo. goo. A re re re re re re re re re re stai stai stai stai stai stai stai stai stai stai
wa wa wa wa wa wa wa wa wa wa seepin seepin seepin seepin seepin seepin seepin seepin seepin seepin through th th th th th th th th th th bandage.
Oop Oop Oop Oop Oop Oop Oop Oop Oop Oop , though though though though though though though though though though Thoma Thoma Thoma Thoma Thoma Thoma Thoma Thoma Thoma Thoma . I thin thin thin thin thin thin thin thin thin thin I use use use use use use use use use use
to to to to to to to to to to muc muc muc muc muc muc muc muc muc muc ja. ja. ja. ja. ja. ja. ja. ja. ja. ja.
Self-assessment Cross out the words that don’t apply.
I need to work on my letter shapes, slope, spacing, size, tails.
Handwriting: fl uency and legibility; all joins. Grammar: thinking verbs (thought, think); apostrophe for possession (doctor’s); proper noun
(Thomas). Spelling and vocabulary: apostrophe for contraction (wasn’t); homophone (too/to/two). Literary elements: third person
narrative; point of view; quote from Doubting Thomas, by Morris Gleitzman (2006).
Notes for teachers and parents......... inside back cover
Can others easily read my writing?............ back cover
Pause a moment........................................... back cover
This edition published in 2021 by
Matilda Education Australia, an imprint
of Meanwhile Education Pty Ltd
Level 1/274 Brunswick St
Fitzroy, Victoria Australia 3065
T: 1300 277 235
E: customersupport@matildaed.com.au
www.matildaeducation.com.au
First edition published in 2015 by
Macmillan Science and Education Australia Pty Ltd
Copyright © Katy Collis, Alexandra Kennedy/Macmillan
Education Australia 2015
Handwriting Rules! Victorian Modern Cursive
Year 4 Student Workbook
ISBN 978 1 4586 5033 7
Editor: Laura Jordan
Production controller: Janine Biderman
Publisher: Sharon Dalgleish
Design: Trish Hayes
Illustrations: Stephen Michael King
Printed in Malaysia by Vivar Printing Pdt Ltd
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 25 24 23 22 21 20

Enter here!
This year you will be entering the amazing
worlds of FLUENCY and LEGIBILITY.
You will practise writing faster using all
the joins including some special new ones.
You will develop a writing style that is
easily read by others.
JOB APPLICATION: HANDWRITING EXPLORER
Name:
Date of birth:
Previous handwriting experience:
Why I would make a good handwriting explorer:

Review: Letter families
Trace then write the anticlockwise letters.
a c d g q
o e f s
Trace then write the clockwise letters.
m n r x z
h k p
Trace then write the i family letters.
l t i j
Trace then write the u family letters.
u y v w b
Practise
capital
letters.
Trace.
A B C D E F G H I J K L M
N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
2
Handwriting: review letter families; review lower case and capital letters.

To link to a, c, d, g and q ,
lift your pencil and drop
them on to the exit of the
letter in front.
lift pencil here
u uc uc ua
Review: Touch joins
Make an keep going up . . . then lift your pencil
exit . . .
and drop-in the letter.
Trace the letter pairs.
ma ma na na uc ic ud id ca da ma na
uq iq ug ig ng nd nc ta ca da ng nd sq
la la ta ha ha ka ka ld ad ac ta la sa
Trace then write.
mad sad dad madly gladly
squiggle giggle ring sing sting
later alligator elder adder
Handwriting: touch joins. Grammar: adverbs (madly, gladly). Spelling and vocabulary: common letter pairs; rhyme.
3

Review: Touch joins
Lift your pencil
when you make a
horizontal touch join.
lift pencil here
wa
Trace then write.
wa ba fa od rg va oc rc ra rd
Trace then write.
awake fake large sergeant archway
apology technology archaeology
A pen lift means your hand can take a little
break before you drop in the next letter.
Trace then write.
The ugly duckling turned into a swan.
That’s a
cygnet!
Self-assessment
Circle your five best joins on the page.
4
Handwriting: touch joins. Punctuation: sentence punctuation. Spelling and vocabulary: common letter pairs; animal young (ducklings,
cygnet). Literary elements: references to fairy tale (‘The Ugly Duckling’, Hans Christian Andersen).

A diagonal join links to the
next letter at the top of that
letter’s body.
u up up up
Review: Diagonal joins
A
Make an
exit . . .
then keep going up . . .
until you get to the
start of the next letter.
Trace then write. Remember to make smooth diagonal joins.
ar ai aj am an au av aw ay
ap cr ce cu dr du di ei ey
ep eu em en er ew ee hi he
hu hy in im er ki ke kn ky
kr mn mi mu mm my mp ni
ny nu nn ui uy up ur um un
Self-assessment
Circle your smoothest join.
Underline a join that needs more practice.
Handwriting: diagonal joins to body and to body and tail letters (descenders). Spelling: common letter pairs.
5

Review: Diagonal joins
u ul ul ul ul ul
Make an keep going up . . . to the very top . . . then retrace to make
exit . . .
the next letter.
Trace then write. Be careful when you retrace the join.
ab ah al ak at cl ch ck
To connect
a diagonal join
to a tall head
and body letter,
continue the
exit all the way
up to the top,
then retrace
to make the
next letter.
ct dt dl dh el et eb ht
hl ik il it ib kl kh ll lk kl
lt mb ml nb nh nt nk nl nb
th tt tl uk ub ut ul at it th
pick of the litter
Self-assessment
My retracing to make joins is:
improving good fantastic .
6
Handwriting: diagonal joins to head and body letters (ascenders). Spelling: common letter pairs. Literary elements: idiom.

Review: Diagonal joins to f
uf uf uf uf
Go up . . . to the then make Lift your pencil
top body line . . . a loop. and add the crossbar.
Trace then write.
uf uf
ef ef
af af
lf lf
if if
df df
Trace then write.
loafing swift drift dreadful unsafe
boxfish wolf oaf elf waif chief shelf
The three pigs fled
from the oafish wolf.
Self-assessment
My loops to join f are smooth and fluent:
sometimes often always .
Handwriting: diagonal joins to f. Grammar: adjectives; nouns; verbs. Spelling and vocabulary: common letter pairs. Literary elements:
reference to folk tale (‘The Three Pigs’).
7

Review: Diagonal joins to x
a ax ax
2
Make a and swing around Lift your pencil and form
diagonal exit . . . smoothly to x. the second stroke of x.
Trace then write.
ax ax ax ax ax ax ax ax ax ax
ux ux ux ux ux ux ux ux ux ux
ix ix ix ix ix ix ix ix ix ix ix ix ix
ex ex ex ex ex ex ex ex ex ex ex ex ex
mix fix fax flux flex six saxophone
pixie pixels flax exit tuxedo exhale
Self-assessment
Put a cross next to any joins to x that you could improve.
8
Handwriting: diagonal joins to x. Spelling and vocabulary: x says ‘ks’ in each word on this page.

Use a
diagonal join
to join from
q to u.
q
Review: Diagonal join from q to u
qu qu qu
Continue the exit all the way up to the top body line.
Trace then write.
qu qu qu qu qu qu qu qu
qu qu qu qu qu qu qu qu
The quick queen queued for quoits.
The quirky quokkas quested for quiche.
Write your own words that have a qu.
Handwriting: diagonal join from q to u. Spelling: common letter pairs. Literary elements: alliteration.
9

Review: Diagonal joins to and from s
To make a faster
diagonal join to s,
change the shape
of the s.
top of s is much shorter
as as as
Make a diagonal keep going to make a then quickly
Trace then write.
exit kick . . . short top on the s . . . retrace around.
as as as as as as as as as as as
is is is is is is is is is is is is is
ns ns ns ns ns ns ns ns ns ns ns
ls ls ls ls ls ls ls ls ls ls ls ls ls
ts ts ts ts ts ts ts ts ts ts ts ts ts
Trace then write.
To make a
diagonal join from
s, you need to
retrace.
retrace
Retrace the bottom
of the s.
sk
ask
retrace
Then go up to make
a diagonal join.
si su sp sl so st
10
Handwriting: diagonal joins to and from s.

Practise diagonal joins with these plurals. Trace then write.
Review: Diagonal joins to and from s
snakes lizards walruses kisses prizes
batteries apologies activities dragonflies
loaves thieves knives
hooves elves calves
Remember to pause
if you need to and relax
your hold on the pen
or pencil.
Trace then write.
“The time has come,” the Walrus said,
“To talk of many things:
Of shoes -- and ships -- and sealing-wax
Of cabbages -- and kings.”
Handwriting: diagonal joins to and from s. Punctuation: sentence punctuation, speech marks. Spelling and vocabulary: plurals adding -s,
-es, -ies. Literary elements: quote from Through the Looking Glass, by Lewis Carroll (1872).
11

Review: Horizontal joins from b, o, r, v w
by or ry
A
Trace then write.
horizontal join
is a line with
a little wave.
To join from
a letter that
finishes near
the top body
line, you need a
horizontal join.
oy op on om oz oi ow op on
ry rn ru rm ru ri rr rp ru
vy vu vi vr vu vi by bi bu ba bo br
wi wr wu wy wi wr wu wy wn wo
Trace then write the similes.
burps like a yowie
wriggles like a viper
Self-assessment
Circle your five best horizontal joins.
12
Handwriting: horizontal joins from letters that finish near the top body line (b, o, r, v, w). Spelling: digraph ‘ur’ (burp); digraph ‘ow’ (yowie).
Literary elements: similes.

Review: Horizontal joins to e
To make a horizontal
join to e, you need to
dip down.
b e be
dip
To join e, dip down.
Trace then write.
oe re ve we be oe re ve we be
oe re ve we be oe re ve we be
believe deceive receive leave heave
we’re were does doesn’t have haven’t
“The werewolf doesn’t exist,”
remarked the man.
Handwriting: Horizontal joins to e from o, r, v, w, b. Punctuation: sentence punctuation; speech marks. Grammar: verbs. Spelling and
vocabulary: apostrophes for contractions (we’re, doesn’t, haven’t). Literary elements: reference to The Bunyip of Berkeley’s Creek;
by Jenny Wagner and illustrated by Ron Brooks (1973).
13